Owing to his illustrative background, David Bray uses basic drawing tools, such as pens, pencils and paper to create delicate and time-consuming drawings which explore emotion, utopia and a world of fantasy through his subject matter of the beautiful and erotic.
From illustration-based drawings to landscape paintings; by chance David came across an old watercolour set whilst clearing out a few things at his parents in Kent. 'I had them in the car still on a visit to the Kent coast and thought to ignore them, but then just plundered straight in as I tend to do. I didn’t know what to expect but it soon became a new addiction and I loved the process. The paintings are just as much about solitude and clearing my brain of all the daily bullshits as they are about capturing a view’ (David Bray, 2020). Furthermore, following a life changing health scare in 2019, resulting in his complete isolation and lock down due to the pandemic and his health risks, his mindscapes respond to a personal need for escape felt more than ever, a cathartic release from his realities. Bray creates imaginary views of the outside world, finding peace with an inner journey.
During a conversation between the curator and Bray, conceptualising his installation for disCONNECT LDN, amalgamating his two distinct styles for the first time was discussed. As a result of this exploration, his mindscapes give audiences a means to escape the anxieties of everyday pandemic life whilst they remain restricted from physically travelling, 'the smell of the sea is in your nose,' as well as contrasting confrontation of his illustration and texts of angst and tension brought forward by his illustration and text 'lost all reasons and sense of belonging.'
Bray continues effortlessly to evolve, changing his style now more than ever embracing new challenges. This collection of mindscapes carries the same finesse and accuracy that show how the roots of each new direction chosen bare the inherent passion and style in the work that came before.
Click here to watch a video about David Bray.
Click here to watch our Artist Interview Series on Instagram IGTV with David Bray and Curator Nicole Schoeni.
